Sliver coiler



Oct. 20, 1959 R. D. CARMICHAEL SLIVER COILER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1956 FIG. 8

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG; 7

INVENTOR ROBERT D. CARM/C AEL BYWW ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,908,945 SLIVER COILER Robert D. Carmichael, Hampton, Ga., assignor to Southel'n States Equipment Corporation, a corporation of Georgia Application September 27, 1956, Serial No. 612,496

8 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) This invention relates to sliver coilers and more particular'ly to coilers using large cans provided with rollers or the like to facilitate bodily movement of the cans and their contents from one position to another.

It is customary to move sliver cans from place to place as a routine procedure in textile mills. Frequently the cans are moved manually by an operator who simply slides the cans along the floor in groups of five or six cans. The trend toward cans of larger and larger diameters results in substantial increases in the weight of the cans, particularly when filled with sliver. heavier cans to handle, it is becoming more and more difficult for an operator to move the cans about, especially Where a particular operation requires him to slide a group of several cans along the floor. In some instances it has been necessary for the operator to reduce the number of cans moved simultaneously in a group and by so doing partially to defeat the purpose of using larger cans.

A principal object of this invention is to provide improved coiler cans having low friction means whereby an operator can slide several large coiler cans along the floor of the mill with comparative ease.

A further object of this invention is to utilize low friction means mounted on a coiler can for rotatably supporting the can on a fixed coiler platform.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a sliver coiler which is arranged to rotate its can on a fixed platform utilizing low friction means mounted on the can.

i The invention in one form comprises a'platform having an apertured base portion and an inclined ramp portion along which the can is moved on rollers mounted on the can, driving means rotatably mounted below the platform, a coupling spindle mounted on the driving means and extending through the aperture in the platform, and a coupling socket on the can which is engageable by the coupling spindle when the can is mounted on the platform so as to impart rotary movement thereto.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings'in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a sliver coiler which embodies this invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view partially in section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and with a portion broken away; Fig. 4 is a view of the bottom of a coiler can to which essential components of the invention have been afiixed; Fig. 5 is a detailed view partially in section of a portion of a coiler can showing one roller aifixed thereto according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a view partially in section showing the spindle of Fig. 2-; Fig. 7 is a view partially in section and similar to Fig. 2 but which represents a modification of the invention; and Figs. 8 and 9 are views showing coupling arrangements whereby one coiler can is coupled with another for the purpose of enabling an operator to control the movement of the cans from one place to another.

Thus with 2,908,945 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 With reference to Fig. 1 the numeral 1 designates a portion of the base of a coiler and the numeral 2 designates a platform constructed according to this invention. Pedestal 3 is afiixed to base 1 in a conventional fashion. Mounted atop the pedestal 3 is a coiler head designated by the numeral 4. As is well-known in the art the pedestal 3 incorporates movable mechanism which imparts driving force to the elements mounted within the coiler head 4 and to the coiler can which is rotated according to this invention about its own vertical axis, thereby to cause a sliver fed through the coiler head to be deposited in the can in a desired predetermined coiled pattern.

As is best shown in Fig. 2 the can 5 is equipped with rollers 6 and the coiler is provided with a vertically disposed spindle 7. Coupling spindle 7 extends through an aperture 8 formed in platform 2. Platform 2 is provided with a main portion on which the rollers 6 rest and operate. Ramp portion 10A of platform 2 is arrangedto aid and operator in mounting and dismounting the can on the platform.

Rotary motion is imparted to the spindle 7 by virtue of the fact that the rotatable driving means 11 is arranged to support the spindle 7, the screws 12 being used to mount the flange of spindle 7 to the driving means 11. Rotatable driving plate 11 is mounted on a thrust bearing schematically designated at 13 which in turn is disposed about the spindle 14 of a spider-like supporting structure 15 having a base 16 afiixed securely to the coiler base 1. The outer periphery of the rotatable driving element 11 rests on a plurality of rollers 17 which are mounted on the spider-like supporting device 15. The periphery of the driving element 11 is provided with a plurality of teeth which cooperate with a chain 18 which is driven by a driving sprocket 19 mounted on a shaft 20 which is journalled in boss 21 formed in the base 1 of the coiler. The tension of chain 18 is adjustable by virtue of the pinion 22 which is rotatable about a vertical shaft 23 which in turn is afiixed to block 24 threadedly mounted on shaft 25 and journally'supported at its ends in bosses 26. A suitable slot adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver, for example, is provided in one end of the shaft 25 so that rotary motion imparted thereto imparts horizontal motion to the ad justing gear 22 by virtue of the threaded relation between the block 24 and shaft 25. Driving sprocket 19 is rotatable with a driving gear 27 which is engaged by a planetary pinion 28 which also engages the teeth of a fixedly mounted gear 29. Rotary motion is imparted to planetary pinion 28 by suitable means which rotates the main driving shaft 30 but which means is not shown in the drawings. Thus since gear '27 is provided with one less number of teeth than the fixed gear 29, rotation of the pinion 28 about the periphery of gears 27 and 29 imparts a mechanical advantage as well as a desired rate of rotation of can 5.

For the purpose of supporting the pedestal 3 and of enclosing the gears 27--29 and associated parts, a housing 31 is provided which is equipped with a horizontal ledge 32. The left-hand extremity of platform 2 rests on ledge 32 and is secured thereto by a plurality of screws 33. A similar screw 34 extends through the main portion of the platform and engages the base 1.

In order to prevent dust and lint and other foreign matter from gaining access to the interior of the mechanism disposed beneath the platform 2, a felt washer 35A is disposed about the base of the flanged spindle 7 and engages the inner surface of platform 2 in the region of the periphery of aperture 8.

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the can 5 is equipped with a spider-like structure on which rollers 6 are mounted. This spider-likestructure includes a base plate 35 having apolygonal opening 36 formed centrally thereof. This polygonal opening 36 in reality constitutes a coupling socket by means of which .an operative relationship is established between the can 5 and thercoupling spindle 7. Affixedto the base plate 35 is a plurality of :radiallyextendingarms .37 to which the base plates-of the rollers-.6 are suitably securedas by welding. is bestshown -in Fig. 5, theoutwardendsof the .arms 37 are :turned upwardly as indicated at.'37A. This .upward extension .37;A .of-eacharm 37 grippinglyengages the lower -rim 38 of the can 5. With the arrangement shown .in Figs. 4 and 5 and as described above it is obvious that thespider-like element comprising base .35 and arms .37 is friGtiQnally secured to the can 5. -It will-be-understoodthat rollers-,6 are -,of conventional construction and are .of the 'type shown schematically in the drawings so as to shield the working parts from lint and other foreign matter.

As is best shownin Fig. -6 the coupling spindle 7 incorporates .a rounded nose portion 39 anda polygonally shaped intermediate portion-40-which is provided with a .downwardlyextending shaft41 .which in .turn seats within a socket formed within .the cylindrical portion42 of the spindle. Obviously the-rounded nose-portion 39 enables the operator readily tomatch up the polygonal sides .40 of the spindle-with the polygonalopening'36 inthe base plate 35. When so arranged rotation of'the spindle 7 obviously imparts rotation tocan 5.

Of 'course it will be understood that anoperator in order to remove the. can 5 from its ,platform 2 simply tilts the can in a direction generally away from ,pedestal 3 thereby to cause the coupling socket 36 to disengage the coupling spindle 7 and also to cause the can .torolldown ontothe floor. In order ,to mount the can in its service position the reverse procedureis followed.

In-Fig. 7-the invention isshownas appliedto. aconventional coiler having a base -1 similar tothebase ,of the coiler depicted in Fig. 2and on whichismountedan element designatedin Fig. 7 by the numeral 43. .Element 43 is securely affixed to element 1. -A rotatable element 44 is provided with a rirn-portion45 which engages .a corresponding recess 46 formed in element 43. A-down- ,wardly extending spindle 47 on element 44 is rotatable within an opening formed centrally-within theelement 43. Rotary motion is imparted to the rotary element .44.by a driving gear 48 which is mounted on a shaft49 and which is provided with teeth'50 which in turn cooperate with teeth Slon rotatable element 44 so as to impart rotary movement thereto. Gear-48 isv rotated by agearSZwhich is mounted on a main shaft 53-which in .turn is driven by suitable means ofa conventional nature.

The arrangement of Fig. 7, being of a conventional construction, may bemodified according to this invention by simply forming-the-base element 44integrally with the spindle generally designated by .the numeral 7 and whichis constructed according to thearrangement shown iniFig. 6. The platform.2 in-.Fig. 7 is=similar ,tothe platform designated by thesarnenumeral in Fig. .2 -it being-understood that the can,5 would be .identical .in construction to that shown in Fig- 2.and that thev apparatus of Figs. 2 and 7 function in anidentical, fashion.

Should it prove-desirable to climinatethe lowfriction rollers 6.and the spider-like elements. associated therewith on can 5 in Fig. 2, the arrangementdepicted in Fig.2 could be usedas a conventional coiler: by simply removing the bolts 33 and 34 and platformland. thereafter removing the bolts :12 and spindle 7. .Ifdesired a suitable cover plate could-be mounted soasto. cover theaperture in rotatable driving meansll and such-means could be secured by screws such as .12to the, rotatableelementll. The coiler ofFig. .2 when so modified Wouldsimply be conventional in natureandacan withoutvwheels .WOllld be mounted on the rotatabledriving -means.11..and.would functionina conventionalifashion.

As.is best showniin. Figs. .4, 1.8, and .9, .coupling.means maybe used. to fasten two.cans.,togethe.r. :Eordnstance,

the coupling rod 54 may be afiixed to each can and rnpy engage the lower rim of another can. As is shown in Fig. 4 rod 54 may be welded to plate 35 or as shown in Fig. 9 the coupler 54A may be secured to an arm 37 or to other structure as may be desired.

While I have shown .and described particular embodiments of the invention 1 do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by I etters Patent of the United States is:

-1. A sliver coiler comprising a stationary apertured platform, a coiler .can arranged for removable mounting on said platform, a plurality of rollers on said can for facilitating bodily movement of said can and for rendering said can readily movable on said platform, movable driving means disposed below said platform, and dis- .jointable coupling-means extending through the aperture in ;said platform for establishing an operative relation between said can and'said drivingmeans when said oan is mounted on said platform whereby said can;is moved relative thereto.

2. A sliver coiler comprising an apertured stationary platform, a coiler can arranged for removable mounting onsaidplatform, a plurality of rollers on said can for facilitating bodily movement of said can and for rendering said ,can readily movable on said platform, movable drivingmeans disposed'below said platform, a;first coupling element movable with said driving meansandextending through the aperture in said,platform, and asecongl coupling element movable with said can and engageable with said first coupling element for establishing an operative relation between saiddriving means and said can whereby saidcan is moved on said platform.

3. A coiler comprising a can having a downwardly. extending peripheral rim at the bottom thereof, a base'element arranged clampingly to engage the lowerrim ofthe can and disposed adjacent the exterior of the ,bottomof the can, a plurality of rollers mounted on said baseelement, a coupling element on said base element, ;and a rotatabledriving element, said coupling element being engageable with said rotatable driving element thereby to cause said can to rotate on said rollers.

4. In a coiler, a spider-like base element having a base plate, a plurality of radially extending arms afiixed to said base plate, a coupling socket formed in said ,base plate, and a roller mounted on each arm, allof said rollers extending in the same general direction and constituting low friction means for rendering saidbaseelement and arms mobile.

5. In a coiler, a spider-like base element having abase plate, a plurality of radially extending arms afiixed to said base plate, a polygonal coupling socket formed in said base plate, and a roller mounted on each arm, all ofsaid rollers extending in the same general direction and constituting low friction means for rendering said base element and arms mobile.

'6. A sliver coiler comprising a platform having a substantially flat aperturedmain portion and a ramp portion angularly disposed relative to saidmain portion, acoiler can having rollers aflixed thereto, said can being movable onto and oif of said main portion of said platform via said ramp portion, driving means below said platform, and disjointable coupling means extending through the aperture in saidiplatform for establishing an operative relation between said can and said driving means when said can is mounted on said main portion of saidplatform.

7. A coiler comprising a can having a downwardly extending peripheral rim at the bottom thereof, ,a base elementarranged clampingly to engage the lower rim of-thecan and disposed adjacent theexterior of the bottom of, the can, a plurality of rollers mounted onsaid base element, and a coupling IQd afiixed to saidibase element and .extendingoutwardly beyond ,the per iphery of said can, the outer extremity of said rod being engageable with a part of another can so as to form a dis jointable connection therewith.

8. In combination, an apertured platform, a can adapted for mounting and dismounting on said platform and having a base plate afl'ixed to the bottom thereof, a polygonal socket formed in said base plate, a coupling spindle extending through the aperture in said platform, and driving means disposed below said platform, said spindle having a base portion connected with said driving means, a polygonal intermediate portion engageable with said polygonal socket to form a disjointable coupling therewith, and a rounded nose portion to facilitate insettion of said spindle into said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

